How a dervish saw in dream a company of Shaykhs and begged for a daily portion of lawful food (which he should receive) without being occupied with earning (it) and being (thereby) incapacitated from devotional service; and how they directed him, and how the sour and bitter mountain-fruit became sweet to him through the bounty of those Shaykhs.

آن یکی درویش گفت اندر سمر ** خضریان را من بدیدم خواب در

A certain dervish said in the night-talk, “I saw in dream those (saints who are) connected with Khizr.

گفتم ایشان را که روزی حلال ** از کجا نوشم که نبود آن وبال

I said to them, ‘Whence shall I (get to) eat a daily portion of lawful food that is not pernicious?’

مر مرا سوی کهستان راندند ** میوه‌ها زان بیشه می‌افشاندند680

They took me along towards the mountainous country: they were shaking down the fruit from (the trees in) the forest,

که خدا شیرین بکرد آن میوه را ** در دهان تو به همتهای ما

Saying, ‘God hath made the fruit (to taste) sweet in thy mouth because of our benedictions.

هین بخور پاک و حلال و بی‌حساب ** بی صداع و نقل و بالا و نشیب

Come, eat (food that is) clean and lawful, and free of reckoning, without trouble and change of place and (going) up and down.’

پس مرا زان رزق نطقی رو نمود ** ذوق گفت من خردها می‌ربود

Then from that daily provision there appeared in me a (gift of) speech: (the spiritual) savour of my words was transporting (the people's) minds.

گفتم این فتنه‌ست ای رب جهان ** بخششی ده از همه خلقان نهان

I said, ‘This is a temptation: O Lord of the world, bestow (on me) a gift hidden from all (Thy) creatures!’

شد سخن از من دل خوش یافتم ** چون انار از ذوق می‌بشکافتم685

Speech departed from (forsook) me; I gained a joyous heart: I was bursting with rapture, like the pomegranate;

گفتم ار چیزی نباشد در بهشت ** غیر این شادی که دارم در سرشت

I said, ‘If there be naught in Paradise (for me) but this delight which I have within my nature,

هیچ نعمت آرزو ناید دگر ** زین نپردازم به حور و نیشکر

No other blessing will be desired (by me): I will not be diverted from this (delight) by the houris and sugar-cane (of Paradise).’

مانده بود از کسب یک دو حبه‌ام ** دوخته در آستین جبه‌ام

Of my (former) earnings one or two small pieces (of money) had remained with me, sewn in the sleeve of my jubba.

How he formed an intention, saying, ‘I will give this money to that carrier of firewood, since I have obtained daily provision through the miraculous gifts of the Shaykhs’; and how the carrier of firewood was offended by his secret thought and intention.

آن یکی درویش هیزم می‌کشید ** خسته و مانده ز بیشه در رسید

A poor man was carrying firewood: he approached (me), weary and exhausted, from the forest.

پس بگفتم من ز روزی فارغم ** زین سپس از بهر رزقم نیست غم690

So I said (to myself), ‘I am independent of (earning) daily bread: henceforth I have no anxiety for the daily portion.

میوه‌ی مکروه بر من خوش شدست ** رزق خاصی جسم را آمد به دست

The loathed fruit has become sweet to me: a special provision for my body has come to hand.

چونک من فارغ شدستم از گلو ** حبه‌ای چندست این بدهم بدو

Since I have been freed from the (cravings of the) gullet, here are some small pieces of money: I will give him these.

بدهم این زر را بدین تکلیف‌کش ** تا دو سه روزک شود از قوت خوش

I will give this money to this toil-worn man, that for two or three brief days he may be made happy by food.’

خود ضمیرم را همی‌دانست او ** زانک سمعش داشت نور از شمع هو

He himself was knowing my mind, because his (inward) hearing had illumination from the candle of Hú (God).

بود پیشش سر هر اندیشه‌ای ** چون چراغی در درون شیشه‌ای695

To him the secret of every thought was as a lamp within a glass.

هیچ پنهان می‌نشد از وی ضمیر ** بود بر مضمون دلها او امیر

No mental conception was hidden from him: he was ruler over the contents of (men's) hearts.

پس همی منگید با خود زیر لب ** در جواب فکرتم آن بوالعجب

Therefore that wondrous man was muttering to himself under his breath in answer to my (unspoken) thought,